New research in the Virology Journal suggests that chickens could become intermediate hosts for newly emerged SARS-CoV-2 variants, posing a potential threat to public health. The study identifies AXL and ACE2 receptors in chickens as likely binding sites for the virus, highlighting the need for further research and preventive measures.
By Dr. Priyom Bose, Ph.D.Sep 5 2023Reviewed by Benedette Cuffari, M.Sc. A recent Virology Journal study evaluates cross-species transmission of newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variants between humans and poultry species.
Various animals in close contact with humans have been found to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, which could be due to mutations in the spike protein of the virus and host receptors. Several studies have confirmed the ability of the receptor binding domain of the SARS-CoV-2 S protein to interact with the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 , including those found in several species, such as horses, monkeys, and sheep.
In both experimental and natural infection settings, poultry are considered unlikely intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Nevertheless, the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 has indicated an increased transmission capacity of this virus. Thus, it is important to understand whether continuous mutation of SARS-CoV-2 will enable poultry to become an intermediate host.
Study findings The protein sequence alignment and interspecific protein modeling of the amino acid sequences of AXL and NRP1 predicted the likelihood of chickens being intermediate hosts of SARS-CoV-2 VOCs.
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